Craps Terms to Know Before Playing in a Live Dealer Format

Why Craps Has So Much Terminology, And Why It Matters

Most casino games have a handful of terms you need to know. Craps has far more terms than most games, such as blackjack or baccarat, and active tables use many of them within a single shooter's turn.

There are a few reasons for this richness:

1. The game has many simultaneous bet types. A craps table can have many active bets running at once across multiple players. Each bet has its own name, its own payout, its own win/loss condition, and its own relationship to the dice outcome. That complexity requires precise language.

2. Much of the vocabulary is superstition-driven. Craps has a lot of superstition. Some players consider saying the word "seven" out loud mid-game bad luck, so they use euphemisms for it: "Big Red," "End of the Race," "Six-Ace," "Up Pops the Devil." This isn't just color; it's functional table etiquette.

3. Much of the slang is informal. Terms like "Nina" (9), "Fever Five" (5), and "Boxcars" (12) are nicknames for dice totals and are used at the table alongside the formal bet names.

4. Dealers use the terminology as a communication system. In a fast-moving live craps game, the stickman, base dealers, and boxman are constantly calling outcomes and managing bets verbally. If you don't understand what they're saying, you'll misplace bets, miss payouts, and disrupt the table's rhythm.

The practical consequence: not knowing craps terminology costs money. You'll place wrong bets, miss the window to take down or add to wagers, and avoid the game's best bets, like True Odds, which carries a 0% house edge, simply because you don't know to ask for them.

The Complete Craps Glossary: Every Term Defined

Numbers and Roll Outcomes

Understanding what the dice can produce: and what each outcome is called, is the foundation of craps literacy.

Snake Eyes / Aces / Two Aces

A roll of 2 (1+1). One of the least likely outcomes on a pair of standard dice, with a probability of 1 in 36 (2.78%). Known as "Snake Eyes" because the two single pips resemble a snake's eyes. Betting on this outcome as a one-roll proposition carries a house edge of approximately 13.89%.

Ace Deuce

A roll of 3 (2+1). Like Snake Eyes, this is a one-roll proposition bet. The probability of rolling a 3 is 1 in 18 (5.56%). On the come-out roll, rolling a 3 causes Pass Line bets to lose.

Boxcars / Midnight / Twelve

A roll of 12 (6+6). The probability is identical to Snake Eyes: 1 in 36. A one-roll bet on 12 that pays 30:1 gives the house a 13.89% edge, since the true odds are 35:1. A table that pays less widens the edge further. Always confirm the payout before betting.

Yo Eleven / Yo

A roll of 11 (6+5). The only way to roll 11 is with a 6 and a 5, giving it a probability of 1 in 18 (5.56%). Called "Yo", short for "yo-leven". On the come-out roll, rolling an 11 wins immediately for Pass Line bettors (a Natural). As a one-roll proposition bet, Yo pays 15:1, with a house edge of 11.11%.

Natural

A come-out roll of 7 or 11. Rolling a Natural wins immediately for anyone betting the Pass Line.

Crap Numbers / Craps

A come-out roll of 2, 3, or 12. Rolling any of these on the come-out causes Pass Line bets to lose. Importantly, "crapping out" on the come-out does NOT end the shooter's turn, they simply roll again. The shooter only loses their turn when they seven out after a point has been established.

The Point

Any come-out roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 establishes "the Point." The dealer marks this number with a white "On" puck. The shooter must then roll the Point again before rolling a 7. If they do, Pass Line bets win. If a 7 comes first, Pass Line bets lose, and the shooter's turn ends, this is called "sevening out."

Nina / Center Field / The Nine

A roll of 9. "Nina" and "Center field" are slang names for a roll of 9. The 9 can be made in 4 ways (3+6, 6+3, 4+5, 5+4), giving it a probability of 4/36 (11.11%).

Fever Five

A roll of 5. The 5 can be made four ways (1+4, 4+1, 2+3, 3+2), with the same probability as the 9. A Place bet on 5 pays 7:5, with a house edge of 4.00%.

Big Red / Any Seven / End of the Race / Up Pops the Devil / Six-Ace

All names for a 7, or for a bet predicting the next roll will be a 7. The 7 can be rolled six ways, more than any other number, giving it a 16.67% probability on any given roll. It is simultaneously the most desired number on the come-out (where it wins the Pass Line) and the most feared after the point is established (where it ends the shooter's turn).

The reason for all the euphemisms: craps superstition holds that saying "seven" out loud after the point is set invites disaster. "Big Red" is one polite substitute. As a one-roll proposition bet, Any 7 pays 4:1 with a house edge of 16.67%, one of the worst bets at the table.

Hard Numbers vs. Easy Numbers

Any even total (4, 6, 8, 10) can be rolled "hard" or "easy."

• A Hard Number is when both dice show the same value: Hard 4 = 2+2, Hard 6 = 3+3, Hard 8 = 4+4, Hard 10 = 5+5.
• An Easy Number reaches the same total with different dice: Easy 8 = 5+3 or 6+2.

Hard bets are multi-roll wagers that win only if the hard version appears before either a 7 or the easy version of the same total. Payouts and house edges for standard hardways:

Square Pair

A Hard 8 specifically (4+4). Called a "Square Pair" because two fours, displayed as pips on a die, form a square arrangement. This is pure table color, the bet itself is identical to a standard Hard 8 wager.

Hi-Lo

A single-roll bet covering both outcomes simultaneously: 12 (Hi) and 2 (Lo). Pays 15:1 if either comes up, a house edge of 11.11%.

Bet Types

Pass Line / Front Line

The most fundamental bet in craps, and statistically the best starting point for any player. A Pass Line bet wins on a come-out Natural (7 or 11), loses on a come-out Crap (2, 3, 12), and becomes a multi-roll bet if any other number becomes the Point. Once the Point is set, the Pass Line wins if the Point is rolled again before a 7.

House edge: 1.41%, among the lowest of any bet on the table. "Front Line" is another name for the same bet.

Don't Pass / Back Line

The mirror of the Pass Line. Don't Pass wins on come-out rolls of 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and pushes (ties) on 12. After the point is set, Don't Pass wins if a 7 appears before the Point. House edge is 1.36%, fractionally better than Pass Line, but practically identical.

Don't Pass bettors are colloquially called "wrong bettors" or "darkside players." While the bet is mathematically sound, it puts you at odds with the rest of the table, who are typically rooting for the shooter to make their point, a social dynamic that casual players should be aware of.

Come Bet

Functionally identical to the Pass Line, but placed after the Point has been established. A Come bet uses the next roll as its own personal come-out. If that roll is 7 or 11, the Come bet wins immediately. If it's 2, 3, or 12, it loses. Any other number becomes the Come bet's own "point," and it wins if that number rolls again before a 7. House edge: 1.41%.

Don't Come

The mirror of the Come bet: placed after the point, acts like a personal Don't Pass for the bettor. Wins on 2 or 3 on the next roll, loses on 7 or 11, pushes on 12. House edge: 1.36%.

True Odds / Odds Bet / Free Odds

Perhaps the single most important term in this entire glossary. Once a Point is established, a player betting the Pass Line can place an additional "Odds bet" directly behind their Pass Line wager. This bet pays at true mathematical odds, there is no house edge whatsoever. It is a bet that gives the house zero advantage.

True Odds payouts by Point number:

• Point is 4 or 10: pays 2:1
• Point is 5 or 9: pays 3:2
• Point is 6 or 8: pays 6:5

Casinos limit Odds bets to control their exposure. The limit, such as 2x, 3-4-5x or 100x, varies by casino. The larger the Odds multiple you're allowed to take, the more it dilutes the 1.41% edge on your Pass Line bet. At 100x Odds, the combined house edge on the total bet drops to approximately 0.02%.

Place Bets

After the point is established, you can bet on any Box Number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) rolling before a 7. Unlike Pass Line bets, Place bets can be made, increased, decreased, or taken down at any time. They don't require a come-out roll. Payouts and house edges:

Place bets on 6 and 8 are widely considered among the best non-Odds bets on the table, with a house edge of just 1.52%.

Big 6 / Big 8

Bets that a 6 (or 8) will roll before a 7. These pay even money (1:1) and sit in the corner of the table. The problem: a Place bet on 6 or 8 covers the exact same outcome but pays 7:6 instead. Betting Big 6 or Big 8 instead of the equivalent Place bet is giving the casino a 9.09% edge instead of 1.52%.

Proposition Bets

All the bets are clustered in the center of the table layout, managed by the stickman. These include Hardways (multi-roll), Any Craps (one-roll), Any Seven (one-roll), Yo Eleven (one-roll), Horn bets (one-roll split across 2, 3, 11, 12), and Hi-Lo. Proposition bets have large payout figures, but they carry house edges ranging from 9% to 16.67%. They are the costliest area of a craps table for players.

Lay Bet

The opposite of a Place bet. A Lay bet wins if a 7 rolls before the chosen number. Used primarily by Don't Pass/Don't Come bettors to extend their position. Because 7 is more likely to roll than any specific number, Lay bets require the bettor to wager more than they stand to win (you lay the odds, rather than take them). With a 5% commission on the winnings paid up front, the house edge is approximately 2.44% on 4 or 10, 3.23% on 5 or 9, and 4.00% on 6 or 8.

Buy Bet

A variant of the Place bet where the player pays a 5% commission (known as "vigorish" or "vig") to receive true odds payouts on 4, 5, 9, or 10. Casinos differ on whether the vig is collected on placement or only on wins. When it is collected only on wins, Buy bets on 4 and 10 offer better value than standard Place bets, with a house edge of approximately 1.67% on 4 or 10.

Inside Bets

A collective term for Place bets on the four "inner" box numbers: 5, 6, 8, and 9. These numbers are statistically more likely to roll than 4 and 10, making inside bets a middle ground for active players who want more action than Pass Line alone without the risk profile of Proposition bets.

Outside Bets

Place bets on the "outer" box numbers: 4 and 10. These have higher payouts (9:5) but higher house edges (6.67%) because they're less likely to roll.

Horn Bet

A one-roll proposition bet split equally across 2, 3, 11, and 12. The portion on the winning number pays its full rate; the other three portions lose. The combined house edge makes this one of the worst-value bets at the table. Often placed in multiples of four (e.g., $4 Horn = $1 on each number).

Insurance Bet

Any combination of bets designed to hedge against a loss. A classic example: placing an "Any Craps" bet alongside a Pass Line bet on the come-out roll. If the dice land on 2, 3, or 12 (Crap Out), the Any Craps bet pays 7:1, partially offsetting the Pass Line loss. Insurance bets reduce variance but increase the overall house edge, they're a risk-management tool, not a profit strategy.

2-Way Bet

A single wager that covers both the player and the dealer simultaneously. Often used as a way to tip, a player says "Two-way Hard Eight" and places a chip that represents a Hard 8 bet for themselves and one for the dealer. If the Hard 8 hits, both the player and dealer win.

3-Way Craps:

A bet placed on three numbers simultaneously: 2, 3, and 12, covering all "crap" outcomes in a single roll. Frequently used as a hedge on come-out rolls.

Even Money

Any bet paying 1:1. Pass Line and Come bets are even-money bets. The term matters because it contrasts with Proposition bets, which offer inflated nominal payouts (e.g., 30:1 on Boxcars) that sound large but are still worse expected value than a simple even-money Pass Line wager.

Table Roles and Personnel

Shooter

The player who physically rolls the dice. At a live table, the role rotates clockwise around the table, each player gets a turn when the dice are offered to them by the stickman. A player may decline to shoot. At live online casinos, the dice may be rolled by the dealer or a mechanical launcher, depending on the game; the term still applies to whoever is designated to roll for that round.

The shooter must have an active Pass Line or Don't Pass wager to roll. This requirement ties the shooter to the outcome and keeps the game's social structure intact.

Boxman

The senior casino employee seated at the center of the craps table, between the two base dealers. The Boxman supervises the entire game: confirms payouts, handles chip buy-ins, resolves disputes, and monitors the dice for tampering. In live online craps, this supervisory role may be handled off-camera.

Stickman

The dealer who controls the stick: a hooked implement used to retrieve the dice after each roll, and who calls the game. The Stickman announces every roll outcome, manages the Proposition bet area in the center of the table, and maintains the game's pace and energy. It's the stickman's voice you hear calling "Yo eleven!" or "Hard eight, the number is hard eight!" A skilled stickman is a significant part of the live craps experience.

Base Dealers

The two dealers, positioned at opposite ends of the table, are responsible for handling bets, making payouts, and managing Pass Line, Come, Place, and Don't bets on their respective sides. In a busy game, base dealers may manage many active bets simultaneously.

George

A player who tips dealers regularly and generously. Being known as a "George" earns genuine goodwill from the table staff, dealers may provide extra guidance, call attention to good bet opportunities, or simply create a more welcoming atmosphere.

Stroker

A player who places excessively complicated, rapidly changing, or difficult-to-track bets, not necessarily to gain an edge, but to create extra work for dealers. A Stroker might call out five simultaneous one-roll proposition bets in different amounts, then change them mid-roll. Dealers recognize the type, and it creates friction at the table.

Wrong Bettor / Darkside Player

A player who bets against the shooter: primarily using Don't Pass and Don't Come bets. The label "wrong" is purely cultural; there's nothing strategically incorrect about playing the dark side. In fact, the Don't Pass line carries a marginally lower house edge than the Pass Line (1.36% vs. 1.41%). However, on a hot table where the shooter is making point after point, wrong bettors are effectively rooting against everyone else, which creates social tension.

Right Player

The opposite of a Wrong Bettor. A player who bets Pass Line and Come, cheering for the shooter to make the point.

Arm

A shooter believed to have exceptional control over the dice. The concept of "controlled shooting" or "dice influence", the idea that a skilled thrower can subtly bias outcomes through consistent grip, arc, and landing zone, has passionate advocates, most notably Frank Scoblete and his Golden Touch Craps program. Casinos dispute that it is possible in practice, and the house edge figures on this page assume fair, random dice.

Game Phases and Table States

Come-Out Roll

The opening roll of a new craps round, made before any point has been established. Every round begins with a come-out. The come-out determines whether Pass Line bets win outright (Natural: 7 or 11), lose outright (Crap Out: 2, 3, 12), or transition into a point round.

Off

A bet is "Off" when it is declared temporarily inactive. On come-out rolls, Hardway bets and some Place bets are automatically Off unless the player specifies "working", meaning they want those bets active even during come-out. A player can also call any bet "Off" at their discretion. Off bets are not removed from the table; they simply don't win or lose on the next roll.

On / Working

A bet is "On" or "working" when it is active and will win or lose on the next roll. After the point is established, most Place bets and Come bets are automatically On. The "On" puck, a white disc the dealer places on the point number box, visually indicates the current game state.

Cold Table

A table where shooters are consistently sevening out before hitting their points. On a cold table, the Pass Line keeps losing and the Don't Pass keeps winning. The energy is flat and many right players lose money quickly. Cold tables are where wrong bettors have their best sessions.

Hot Table / Hot Dice

The opposite of a cold table: shooters are making their points, rolling through long hands, and Pass Line bettors are winning repeatedly. Hot tables can create an electric atmosphere. A legendary "hot hand" in craps history: in May 2009, Patricia Demauro of New Jersey rolled the dice 154 times at the Borgata in Atlantic City before sevening out, a record hand that lasted four hours and 18 minutes.

Seven Out

When a shooter rolls a 7 after the point has been established, ending their turn. The stickman announces, "Seven out, line away", dealers clear the table of most active bets, and the dice pass to the next player. Sevening out is not a failure of the shooter; it's the expected statistical conclusion of any shooter's hand. On average, a shooter will roll approximately 8.5 times before sevening out.

Point

The number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) established on the come-out roll that becomes the target for the remainder of the shooter's hand. Once the point is set, the entire game reorients around it. Pass Line bettors need the point to roll again. Don't Pass bettors need a 7 to roll first.

Table Slang and Color Terms

Scared Money

A player who is visibly underfunded relative to the table minimum or the bets they're attempting to sustain. The phrase comes from the gambling maxim: "Scared money never wins", the idea that a player who can't afford to lose will make irrational, fear-driven decisions that compound losses. Practically speaking, it means always playing within comfortable bankroll limits.

Toke

A tip given to a dealer. 2-way bets are one structured way to tip, and direct cash tips are another. Standard tipping etiquette varies by casino and country.

Midnight

Another name for rolling a 12 (Boxcars).

Betting Right vs. Betting Wrong

These aren't judgment calls: they're standard craps terminology. "Right" refers to Pass Line / Come bets (with the shooter). "Wrong" refers to Don't Pass / Don't Come bets (against the shooter). Both are legitimate strategies with similar house edges.

Box Numbers

The six numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, are displayed in the numbered boxes across the top half of the craps table. These are the only numbers that can become the Point, and they're the numbers used for Place, Buy, Lay, and Come bets.

5-Count

A betting discipline. The 5-Count requires a bettor to observe a new shooter for five rolls, with at least one of those rolls hitting a box number, before placing any money. The logic: the 5-Count filters out "random rollers" while letting you catch the beginning of longer hands. It doesn't change the mathematical house edge, but it reduces hourly exposure to risk.

Ace / Low

Both terms for a bet on rolling a 2. "Ace" because each die shows a single pip (the ace in cards). "Low" because 2 is the lowest possible dice total.

High

A bet on rolling a 12. The counterpart to "Low" (2). Combined into Hi-Lo when both are wagered simultaneously.

Six Ace

A call for a specific bet predicting the next roll will be a 7, specifically as a 6+1 combination (a six and an ace). Not a formally distinct bet from "Any 7," but used as slang. Also used as a general substitute for saying "seven."

Vigorish / Vig

The commission charged by the casino on certain bets, most commonly Buy bets and Lay bets. For example, 5% of the wager. When vig is charged on placement (win or lose), it raises the house edge. When charged only on wins, the house edge is lower. This distinction matters significantly for Buy bets on 4 and 10, always ask the table's vig policy before placing one.

The Most Important Craps Terms to Learn First

If you're approaching this glossary for the first time, trying to absorb all these terms at once will produce confusion rather than confidence. Here's the sequence that actually builds craps literacy efficiently.

Step 1: Understand the Two Phases of Every Round

Every craps round has exactly two phases: the Come-Out and the Point Phase. If you understand what changes between these two phases, and crucially, which bets win and lose in each phase, you understand the core of the game.

• Come-Out phase: 7 and 11 win for Pass Line; 2, 3, 12 lose. Any other number establishes the Point.
• Point phase: The Point number wins for Pass Line. A 7 loses for Pass Line (and ends the shooter's turn).

Everything else is elaboration on these two phases.

Step 2: Learn Pass Line and Don't Pass

These are the foundational bets with the lowest house edges at the table. Learning their mechanics teaches you the entire flow of a craps round. Once you understand Pass Line vs. Don't Pass, every other bet becomes a variation on this theme.

Step 3: Discover True Odds

The Odds bet is the game's secret weapon. A 0% house edge bet exists at the craps table,. Ask the dealer, "Can I take odds on my Pass Line bet?", they'll show you exactly where to put the chips.

Step 4: Learn the Box Numbers

4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. These are the only numbers that become Points, and they're the basis for Place bets, Buy bets, Come bets, and Lay bets. Understanding why some of these (6 and 8) roll more frequently than others (4 and 10) shapes all of your future bet selection.

Step 5: Know the Proposition Bet Names, to Avoid Them

"Hardways," "Any Seven," "Horn," "Hi-Lo", learn these terms so you understand what the stickman is offering and why the house edge is too high to make them part of a core strategy. They're not forbidden; they're expensive entertainment.

Craps Betting Strategies and the Terms They Depend On

Every documented craps strategy is built from a vocabulary of bets. Understanding the terms makes the strategies comprehensible.

Pass Line + Maximum Odds

The most mathematically efficient way to play craps. House edge on the combined bet approaches 0% as the odds multiplier increases. Terms required: Pass Line, Come-Out, Point, True Odds, Natural, Crap Out, Seven Out.

The 5-Count Method

This strategy requires observing five qualifying rolls before placing any bets on a new shooter. It doesn't improve the odds of any individual bet but reduces total action on random shooters, limiting exposure. Terms required: 5-Count, Box Numbers, Seven Out, Point.

Iron Cross

A combination bet covering Place bets on 5, 6, and 8 plus a Field bet. Wins on every number except 7. It generates frequent small wins, though the house still holds a combined edge. Terms required: Inside Bets, Place bets, Field bet, Seven Out.

Place Bets on 6 and 8

Simple, low-edge strategy suitable for new players. The 6 and 8 are each the most likely Point numbers to roll (probability 5/36 each, compared to 3/36 for 4 and 10). Paying 7:6, these Place bets offer a house edge of just 1.52%. Terms required: Place bet, Box numbers, Inside bets, Seven Out.

Don't Pass + Lay Odds

The mathematically equivalent "dark side" of Pass Line + Odds. After establishing a Don't Pass position, the player "lays odds", wagering that a 7 will roll before the Point. Because 7 rolls more frequently than any specific point number, the player is technically favored to win these bets. Combined with the Don't Pass line edge of 1.36%, this is one of the most efficient strategies in the casino. Terms required: Don't Pass, Lay Odds, Wrong Bettor, Cold Table, Seven Out.

A Note on House Edge: The Numbers Behind Every Term

Craps terminology isn't neutral: it reflects where the casino makes its money. The gap between the best and worst bets on a craps table is wide.

The sharpest observation here: the worst bet on the table (Any 7, 16.67% house edge) is structurally adjacent to the best available bet (Pass Line, 1.41%). They're separated by vocabulary, by knowing what "Any 7" and "Big Red" mean, and choosing instead to put that chip on the Pass Line or behind it as an Odds bet.

How to Actually Memorize Craps Terms

Group Terms by Category, Not Alphabet

The glossary in this guide is arranged for reference. For learning, group terms thematically:

• Come-out outcomes: Natural, Crap Out, Point
• Core bets: Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, Don't Come, Odds
• Number bets: Place, Buy, Lay, Inside, Outside
• High-risk bets: Any 7, Hardways, Horn, Proposition
• Slang for rolls: Yo, Boxcars, Snake Eyes, Nina, Fever Five, Big Red
• Table roles: Shooter, Stickman, Boxman, Base Dealers
• Culture: George, Toke, Scared Money, Cold Table, Hot Table, Wrong Bettor

Learn one category at a time. Each category builds on the previous.

Watch Live Games in Spectator Mode

Some live casinos allow you to watch tables without placing bets. Use this feature deliberately: sit at a live craps tablethis glossary open beside you, and match what the dealer calls to the terms here. Watching real action helps tie vocabulary to what happens at the table.

Say the Slang Out Loud

The nicknames: "Yo eleven!", "Boxcars!", "Nina from Pasadena!", are memorable precisely because they're ridiculous. Saying them aloud, even privately, can help you remember them.

Play Pass Line Only for Your First Three Sessions

Resist the temptation to explore the full table immediately. Playing only Pass Line bets forces you to experience Come-Out rolls, Points being established, Sevening Out, and Natural wins, the entire rhythm of the game, without cognitive overload. Every important term arises naturally in this limited context.